keep your partner talking

It’s raining outside.  You have a date.  Do you cancel or go?  What do you think your friend will do? Will you call your friend to confirm?  If your feelings are down, what will you do to cheer up?

questions about speaking a foreign language

What is bricolage?  Is it important?

What is circumlocution?  When should we use it?

What is tolerance for ambiguity? Why is it important?

Why is speaking a foreign language like taking a photograph?

You are on a bicycle trip.  You have a few tools but the toolkit is incomplete?  Comment.

You are on a bicycle trip.  You have a few tools but the toolkit is incomplete?  Comment,

Good answer

Of course the bicycle will breakdown during the trip.  It is the law of averages.  If I breakdown I will do everything I can to repair the bicycle with the tools I have.

I will practice bricolage. 

Bad answer

I don’t know.  (an unwillingness to guess.) 

I would not leave without full tool kit.  (Impractical; too heavy)


Why is speaking a foreign language like taking a photograph?

A good photograph tells a story.  The photographer has to compose an image with a camera.  The camera is a tool that limits what the photographer can do.  Photography tries to show, not tell.  It is a visual language that is ambiguous. 

complicity

Answer in paragraph form

What did Emma understand about her mother?
What is the family situation like?  Give an example.
What didn't Emma like about Dan?  Quote from the text.
What part of the story did you feel strongly about? Why?
Do you think Emma understands the situation well?

laughing

Laughing prompts

Choose one:

1.  I like to laugh a lot.   I don’t like to laugh.  I sometimes laugh.

2. What makes you laugh?

3.  When did you last have a good laugh?

3 (b) What happened?  Who were you with?  Where were you?

4.  How do you laugh?  Quietly?  Loudly?

5. Is it always appropriate to laugh?  When is it inappropriate?

6.  Have you ever laughed at the wrong time?

7.  Some people are good at telling jokes?  Are you?

8.  In conclusion, do you feel laughter is good for our health?

Instructions:  Write a paragraph using a selection of the above questions.     You don't need to use all questions.   Remember,  the questions are a plan.  Don't do Q&A!

Believe in your own abilities

Here is an example topic sentence from the lesson.  

Hoo’s strong belief in the power of his long hair gives him the confidence he needs to help other people.   While this seems amazing, the important thing is to believe in your own abilities.  

Do you believe in your own ability to speak and learn English? 

writing reports

Topic comment sentence is the top sentence of your report

The atmosphere of a restaurant is very important because people need to feel comfortable when they eat.

Many people suffer from a allergies, especially during spring. 

When we eat fast food we think about taste rather than healthy eating.

So many student cook for themselves because they live alone. 

Questions to consider

Did you or didn’t expect this result? 

What is the main reason for the results?

What is your opinion.

Hint

Don’t write the questions in your assignment.